THE SHOPS THIS CHRISTMAS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21647, 4 December 1935, Page 10

THE SHOPS THIS CHRISTMAS

.. I M| llilfr I. I 11.11.1 l' ' Ijjl GREAT CONFIDENCE? EXPRESSED . EMPLOYMENT OF EXTHA j ASSISTANTS

Beiail trade at Christmas year had improved so much jMHH from a business point of view it regarded as the merriest Christaq^^jf| for years. Maintained the year, the improvement has extended to the additional usually taken on by the larger fijt»»i|fippj for the Christmas season. ies yesterday among the brought the most encouraging agpSE' swers heard since the world covery began to replace the depression in the city. : wp Most of thie shops have by. i««h|§lbl taken on sufficient extra judging by present indications, tlMi carry them over the coining of heavy shopping. But stone of lajjjß managers interviewed were by no means confident there would be no need for furißwPl|jl additions to the staff. One of largest department stores has ready increased its normal staff 'mMM 15 per cent., and the manager that before Christmas the anpiwfjM tation would very likely be 20 - Early shopping is another this year. It has been noticed 'tMjflil while no greater effort than has been made by the retailers attract early Christmas the. public has decided to begin HPafll Christmas almost before the are ready for it Displays everywhere, of course. Even fl'Pifl butcher and the baker are dressngj|»|| their windows and their wares propriately—and the wdl maker (if there were such a petaoßtHH would no doubt be ho less badrepffll ward in preparing attractive ffHyjaß ;fpr his customers. . |l||g Before and After , ||9| The election, one. manager saidjffl had undoubtedly slowed up ness for some weeks before polling!!!! day; but this had been ted for by the marked improve«mEi|f® "As for the Labour Government we are not worrying a bit," IW'ipS said, "and we would like .the ']{§j lie to know that The Lab out 'j|| party is in and the sooner we can Hjj! convince the public that we are' ; lf confident of the future, the better.? I| "Ever since the elections, bust—ness has been getting better an* 41 better," said another manager. With |i half-humorous diffidence about lowing his remarks to be published, i'l he said that there was no doubt m that from the day after the election -'1 there had been a wonderful im- " provement in business. "The effect was noticeable on the very day after the change, of Government was announced," he said. His firm had ~4 taken on three or four extra assist- '& ants a month ago. Probably more assistants than usual would be warn *1 ted this year, and a "really first- M class Christmas" was anticipated. > '»l^ At the same time, Post Office offi- "fi cials are expecting an uncommonly busy time in the next few weeks.'-*[! They are anxious that the public 1 should post gifts and greetings'' 'if early, to. diminish the last-minute "'<! rush with its strain on the office staffs. , - -rfij

Displays of Gifts ~1 In the shop windows the weeks' before Christmas are the time iot • a display of the best articles and'J <t * i attractive in appearance. Attraetiye" is a word which needs qualification. Good taste does nat<& necessarily go with good wisheaJ and a good heart, so that along fihe t streets may be seen displays which : appeal to every sort of person. For* the more discriminating | : j Shoppers there are the very best ® of tasteful goods—and for others' there are gifts which, while thev j not please the discriminatmis '> ones, are certainly "just the riSS \ thing for so-and-so." The retailers ' nave to supply every need. Good weather is an important- i matter to the anxious retailer, *ng for a succession of sunny 'dsn to draw the crowds from the suburbs mto the city streets. Tha weather was mentioned by several men yesterday, who said that only'fine days between now and Christ! j mas were required to make it fh« • best they had known for yeans*,